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Maurice Elvey was born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England, as the eldest son of William Clarence Folkard, an inspecting engineer, and Sarah Anna Seward Folkard (née Pearce). Lacking formal education, he was working on the streets of London by age nine after running away from home. For a period, he worked as a page boy at the Hyde Park Hotel, where a fortunate encounter with a wealthy American set him on a path toward a career first in theatre and later in film. While working as a stage producer in New York, he saw his first film, The Flying Dutchman (1923), which left a strong impression on him. Upon returning to England, he resolved to produce and direct films, launching a career that lasted 44 years and resulted in over 300 feature films and countless shorts. Among Elvey’s pioneering achievements as a director were Gaumont's first talking film, High Treason (1929), and the first British color film, Sons of the Sea (1939). Renowned filmmakers Carol Reed and David Lean began their careers working under him, and he directed Gracie Fields in her debut film, Sally in Our Alley (1931). Maurice Elvey was the elder brother of Fred V. Merrick, with whom he collaborated on several films during the 1920s and 1930s. In May 1996, the long-lost film about David Lloyd George, directed by Elvey, premiered in Cardiff more than 70 years after its intended release. The three-hour film had been suppressed on the eve of its 1918 debut under unexplained circumstances. Cinema historians hailed it as a landmark in filmmaking, suggesting that its original release might have significantly influenced British cinema.
Maurice Elvey married three times. His first marriage was on 31 December 1910 to Adeline Maud Charlton Preston, also known as the actress Philippa Preston; this marriage ended in divorce. He then wed sculptor Florence Hill Clarke on 2 February 1916, which also ended in divorce. His third marriage was to Isabella Reed, also known as actress Isobel Elsom, on 13 January 1923; this marriage likewise ended in divorce. As Elvey's niece and goddaughter, I had the honor of unveiling a plaque in April 1997 at the Green Dragon Museum in Stockton-on-Tees during the Centenary of Cinema celebrations.
